SALYAN, June 23: Farmers in Salyan district are worried after their crops are drying up due to prolonged drought. Maize plants and paddy seedlings have dried due to lack of rainfall and irrigation, complained farmers.
Similarly, off-season vegetable farming in the Kapurkot area has dried up. Water sources have started drying up without rain making the matter worse, said Nabin Pun, a farmer. "This is the time to tend to corn plants. But plants have started drying up without rain. Some farmers have been off tending to the plants in fear of its drying," he said.
Absence of winter rainfall hampering maize crop in Udayapur
Ganesh Nepali of Chhetreshwori Rural Municipality is also worried. "Paddy plantation has begun. But, lack of rainfall has made the matter worse." Some have planted paddy in farmlands near water sources. But others who are dependent on rain are yet to begin, he said.
Around 7,000 hectares of lands have been cultivated for paddy plantations in the district, according to the District Agriculture Development Office. Similarly, approximately 19,000 hectares have been used for corn plantation and 600 hectares for finger millet.
